Press



PRESS Filed NOV. 27, 1933 2 Sheets-5119!l l PRESS 2 sheets-snaai 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1933v Cil Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESS a corporation of Ohio Application November 27, 1933, Serial No. 699,830

6 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to presses, and especially to presses of the type wherein there are a plurality of superposed platens adapted to receive mold members so that when the press is closed pressure will be exerted between the ram actuated platform or elevator and the head or other iixed abutment so as to mold or both vulcanize and mold articles placed between the mold members which are attached to the adjacent faces of the superposed platens.

Inv one well known type of vulcanizing press there is a fixed head at the top of the press and a movable elevator to which are attached one or more rams operating in hydraulic cylinders. The head is in the form of a heavy casting and there are four heavy iixed columns at the four corners of the press extending between the head and the structure of the cylinders to resist the enorm-ous pressure which is transmitted from the rams beneath to the head above. through the intervening platens, mold members, and the articles which are between the mold members and which are designed to be molded or vulcanized when the press is closed. When the press is open, the superposed platens are spaced a given distance apart, and while the press is being closed, the platens move toward each other, and when it is being opened, they move away from each other, and during these movements they are suitably guided either on the four thrust resisting columns referred to or on other suitable, fixed, vertically disposed guides with which the end portions of the platens have sliding engagement and which extend between the head and the lower cylinder structure.

In presses of the above type used for certain purposes, as, for example, in making rubber covered running boards for automobiles wherein the rubber is molded and vulcanized to sheet metal running board bodies, in order that the presses may have large capacity, not only does the press have a large number of superposed platens or decks, as explained above, but the elevator and the various platens arranged above it are large enough to receive between them two pairs of mold members so that two running boards will be accommodated between each pair of platens. In a press of this kind, the press is loaded and unloaded simultaneously on both sides by workmen standing and operating on opposite sides of the press.

A press of this kind has two distinct disadvantages. In the first place, notwithstanding the fact that the head may be in the form of a very heavy steel casting, the enormous pressure which is exerted by the hydraulic rams has a tendency to bend or arch the head because, as stated above, the thrust is resisted by the four corner columns. This results in unequal pressure being exerted on different portions of the running board bodies and the rubber coverings which were applied thereto, with the result that the rubber will be thicker on certain portions of the running board than it should be and thinner than intended on other portions. As the head is bowed upwardly relative to the four corners, the thicker portions of the rubber naturally occur at the inner middle portions of the running boards. A further-disadvantage is that, if there is greater thickness of rubber or of steel in the running board bodies on one side of the press than on the other, the compression and therefore the molding action on one side will be greater than on the other, resulting in non-uniform and imperfect boards.

The object of the present invention is to provide a press, and particularly a multi-deck press, which overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages.

The above object is attained by eliminating the usual corner supporting and thrust resisting columns and employing instead thrust resisting means arranged in the center plane of the press or in the central vertical longitudinal plane, assuming that the press is of greater length than breadth or thickness. The centrally located thrust resisting means may be in the form of a series of columns or of a heavy plate suitably attached to the head and to the cylinder structures beneath. In this manner not only is the deflection of the head under pressure eliminated or reduced to a minimum, but independently operating cylinders, rams, and platens can be arranged on opposite sides of the thrust resisting means so that when the press is closed any uneven thicknesses oi the metal or rubber between the molds on one side of the press will have no effect on the articles being molded or molded and vulcanized between the mold members on the opposite side of the press.

The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specication and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings wherein I have shown two embodiments of the invention,

Fig. V1 is a side view of a press embodying my invention in one of its forms;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a press embodying another form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the same; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

In both forms of the invention herein illustrated, the stationary abutment toward which the pressure actuated parts move is at the top of the machine and the iluid pressure motive means, generally in the form of hydraulic motors of the cylinder and piston or ram type, are at the bottom of the press. Also, in both forms of the invention illustrated there are a plurality of mold receiving superposed platens on both sides of the central vertical plane of the press, but it will be understood that certain of these details may be modified, especially as to the relative arrangement of the xed abutment and the pressure actuating means or motors, and the number of platens or the number of molds which can be accommodated.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, the fixed abutment at the top of the press is in the form of a head Ill consisting in this instance of two rigid members, preferably steel castings, designed to be bolted together, as hereinafter described. At the bottom of the press are two sets of hydraulic motors, each consisting of a cylinder II and a ram or plunger I2. In this instance, one set of these motors is arranged on each side of the machine, and in this case there are two tothe set, but the number may be varied. Each set of motors actuates an elevator I3 which is attached to the corresponding rams I2. Located in the vertical longitudinal central plane of the press and dividing the same into two halves is a plate I4 which extends the full length of the press vertically, which is of substantially the width thereof, and which is of suflicient thickness to provide the necessary strength to resist the pressures which are transmitted from the rams to the head. It may be cut out in the center for the sake of reducing the weight somewhat, as indicated at I4a. It will be noted that this central plate I4 extends between the two castings forming the head I0, and the two parts of the head and this plate are bolted together by upper bolts I5 and a set of lower bolts I6, the latter being preferably larger than the bolts I5 since the wider portions of the two castings composing the head are preferably located at the lower portions thereof. The two castings forming the head taper upwardly toward the center plane so as to be of greatest thickness and strength at the center where they engage and are secured to the plate I4. The lower part of the plate passes between the cylinders of the two sets of hydraulic motors, and the plate and the cylinders are securely bolted together by a set of large bolts I1 passing through the plate and through bosses formed on the cylinders and by lower and shorter bolts I8 passing through the lower portion of the plate and through bosses formed on the cylinders. In this manner a Very rigid structure is provided without employing the usual corner supporting columns. Between the ram I2 and the head casting immediately above it on each side of the plate I4 are a series of superposed platens I9 to the adjacent faces of each pair of which are adapted to be attached upper and lower mold members one pair of which are illustrated in Fig. 4 and are designated 20 and 2l respectively.

When the press is fully open, as herein illustrated, the various platens are equidistantly spaced apart, and as the press is closed by introducing fluid pressure into the cylinders Il beneath the rams, the elevators are raised and the molds are successively closed, the lower mold being rst closed and nally the upper mold being closed in the manner well understood in the art.

The lowermost platens I9 are mounted directly on the elevators I3. The uppermost platens are attached to the lower side of the head, and the intermediate platens are, while the press is open, held a predetermined distance apart by spacing and supporting means designated generally by the reference character 22, the same being supported from the head and, as usual, consisting of bolts or rods equipped with shoulders provided thereon so that when the press is opened the platens will be held a predetermined distance apart, at the same time allowing the platens to be elevated in the closing operation. The platens are guided in their movements by fixed guide rods 23 which are so located as to pass through or otherwise engage the four corners of the platens, these guide rods having their upper ends received in bosses in the head castings and having their lower ends received in bosses formed on the cylinder structure. The two elevators are also guided by these guide rods, being provided with bosses which slide thereon.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, the head is composed of a single casting 25 in place of the two castings of the construction first described, this casting being of greatest thickness in the longitudinal center plane where the greatest strength is desired. The bottom of the press has a heavy base 26 which, like the head 25, is thickened at the center, and on this base are supported the cylinders 2l of the hydraulic motors, the rams 28 of which are attached to the elevators 29. As before, the hydraulic motors are arranged in the two sets on opposite sides of the vertical center plane of the press, those in each set operating independently of the other. In this instance, there are three hydraulic motors in each set instead of two as in the construction already described, but here again the number may be varied as desired. Extending between the end cylinders and the corner portions of the head 25 are guide rods 30 for the platens 3I which are similar to those first described and which are held a predetermined distance apart when the press is opened by the usual supporting and spacing means indicated at 32, the guide rods and the spacing means extending through the corners of the platens.

In this instance, the thrust resisting means consists of a series of heavy columns 33 arranged in the center plane of the press and extending through the relatively thick portions of the head 25 and the base 26, the ends of these bolts or columns being threaded and receiving nuts 34 which, when tightened, form a solid, tight structure.

In the press structure illustrated in Figs. l to 3 inclusive, the shearing stresses on the bolts I 5 and I6 are preferably relieved, in part at least, by grooving the sides of the plate I4 near the top and by having portions of the head castings IIl extend therein, forming intertting shouldered portions. Of course the plate has a head supporting function and also resists the downward pressure to which it may be subjected while the press is being opened, especially if the mold members tend to stick together as they do at times while the press is being opened.

Likewise, in the construction shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, the columns 33 may wholly or partially support the head 25 and may also eiectively resist the downward pull on the head when the press is being opened by providing suitable shoulders on the columns on which the head 25 rests.

The presses herein illustrated are preferably employed for vulcanizing as well as molding, but I have not attempted to show any of the steam connections as the steam pipes will be connected to the mold members in accordance with common practice, the platens being provided at their ends with rectangular notches to accommodate the steam pipes.

Thus it will be seen that with both forms of the invention the severe stresses transmitted by the ram actuated elevators are resisted in the longitudinal center plane of the press rather than at its four corners, with the result that there will be practically no deflection in the head, and since the ram actuated elevators and platens on one side of the press are independent from those on the other, the disadvantages of the prior construction, wherein the stress resisting columns are at the four corners and wherein the platens extend the full width of the press and each accommodates two mold members, are very effectively overcome.

I aim in my claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A vertical press comprising a relatively thin vertical support, a pair of stationary platens secured to the top thereof, one platen on each side of the support and cantilevered therefrom, a pair of vertically movable platens disposed below the stationary platens in alignment therewith one on each side of the support, one-or more pairs oir cylinders secured to the bottom of the support each pair of cylinders being disposed one on each side of the support and forming abase therefor, pistons in the cylinders arranged to upwardly force the vertically movable platens, one or more pairs of intermediate vertically movable platens disposed between the said stationary and lmovable platens, each pair of said intermediate platens being disposed one on each side of the said support and guide rods supported from the stationary platens upon which the intermediate platens vertically slide.

2. A vertical press comprising a. relatively thin vertical support, a pair of stationary platens secured to the top thereof, one platen on each side of the support and cantilevered therefrom, a pair of vertically movable platens disposed below the stationary platens in alignment therewith one on each side of the support, one or more pairs of cylinders secured to the bottom of the support each pair of cylinders being disposed one on each side of the support and forming a base therefor, and pistons in the cylinders arranged to upwardly force the vertically movable platens.

3. A vertical press comprising a relatively thin center support, a pair of ram mechanisms one secured to each side of said support to form a base to hold the center support in vertical position, and a pair of stationary cantilever platens secured to the top of said support in opposed relation to said ram mechanisms.

4. A vertical press comprising a relatively thin center support, a pair of ram mechanisms one secured to each side of said support to form a base to hold the center support in vertical position, a pair of stationary cantilever platens secured to the top of said support in opposed relation to said ram mechanisms, a plurality of guide rods supported from the said stationary platens, and intermediate platens slidably guided there- 5. A vertical press comprising stress resisting means located in the central plane of the press and extending substantially from one end of the press to the other, a pair of ram mechanisms one on either side of said stress resisting means, and stationary cantilever press heads projecting from opposite sides of the top of said stress resisting means in opposed relation to said ram mechanisms.

6. A dual press comprising vertical stress resisting means located in the central plane of the press and extending substantially from one end of the press to the other, stationary cantilever press heads projecting on opposite sides of the stress resisting .means at the upper end thereof, a pair of vertically movable fluid pressure actuated ram mechanisms one on either side of said stress resisting means disposed below the stationary heads and in alignment therewith, a plurality of vertically movable intermediate platens on either side of said stress resisting means disposed between said stationary heads and said movable ram mechanisms, and guide rods attached to the stationary heads upon which the intermediate platens vertically slide.

EDMUND M. WJNEGAR. 

